Be joyful always..... A Challenge

So I have to admit that there have been some days where I have struggled down here in South Carolina.  I have struggled with missing home, having a purpose, not teaching, loneliness.... you name it, I have felt it.  Moving to a new state is a BIG DEAL, especially if you have lived in the same city for 29 years.  

Last week was a break through week(even though the Phillies lost)  as I saw God answer many prayers.  I got a call from a school, I had a fun lunch with my neighbors, a fun outing with my mother-in-law, awesome weekend with my husband, and just great stuff.  It was just what I needed to boost my happiness.  But I was also challenged by this as well.  Why do I let circumstances in life determine how happy I am??  There are things to be thankful for every single day that we take for granted.  I have really struggled with knowing my purpose down here.  I went from a life of teaching at a job I absolutely adored, being a social butterfly.  being surrounded by many friends and family to a life where I am happily married but in a new state, knowing only three people here, and a DRAMATIC  change of pace in life.  


I had a revelation last week:  I have no excuse to sit around and feel sorry and sad and wallow in my so called "lonliness".   I am not lonely.  I have a wonderful husband, fantastic in-laws, and  wonderful family and friends that check in on me.  (Thanks mom and dad for the Skype call last night).  And... I have my Lord and Savior who is always there to listen.  And guess what else????  TO HAVE FRIENDS, YOU HAVE TO BE A FRIEND.....  Reach out to people!  It's a benefit to you and them.  


If you are struggling with purpose in life. take encouragement from these verses.  I love, love, love them!!


"Be joyful always, pray continuously, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."  I Thessalonians 5: 16-18


So here is my challenge for you today.  Answer these five questions.  They are taken from a book that my mother- in- law gave me called "The 4:8 Principle" by Tommy Newberry.


-What are five things I am thankful for right now?
- What are five of my strengths or positive traits?
-What are five of my best achievements so far?
- Who are the five people who love me the most?
-What five things am I looking forward to in the next seven days?


Answer these questions, and then thank the Lord for your answers and the things he has blessed you with. 

Kale Recipes...

So yesterday I shared with you some of the health benefits of kale.
Here are a few of my favorite kale recipes:
#1   Kale Chips.... these are super easy and oh so yummy.


Take the kale leaves and break them apart into bite size pieces.
Spread over a tray lined with foil.
Drizzle with olive oil.  Don't drench it.
SPrinkle with your desired amount of salt.
Bake at 350 degrees for 18 min.

Enjoy!


#2  Kale Shake

In a blender, combine....
- a handful of kale
- 1 cup of V8 Fusion- I like strawberry banana
- Assortment of frozen fruit.  Walmart sells a huge bag for about $7.00
-A few Ice cubes

Blend, Blend, Blend...... the color will be less than attractive, but trust me, it is sooooo good:-)


#3  Apple-Kale Smoothie
I haven't tried this one yet, but found the recipe in Real Simple

Serves 1| Hands-On Time: 05m | Total Time: 05m

Ingredients

             

• 3/4 cup chopped kale, ribs and thick stems removed
• 1 small stalk celery, chopped
• 1/2 banana
• 1/2 cup apple juice
• 1/2 cup ice
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice                                                    

Directions

1. Place the kale, celery, banana, apple juice, ice, and lemon juice in a blender.
2. Blend until smooth and frothy.

Kale......Oh so good and oh so good for you!

I have discovered Kale in the past year.  It is so yummy and so healthy.  Check this out... Tomorrow I will post two of my favorite kale recipes. 

Kale is not only one of the more beautiful cruciferous vegetables, but it also one of the most nutritious. Here are nine reasons to eat kale, and eat it often.

Diet and Digestion 
One cup of kale has only 36 calories and zero grams of fat, which makes it a great diet aid. Furthermore, one cup contains nearly 20% of the RDA of dietary fiber, which promotes regular digestion, prevents constipation, lowers blood sugar and curbs overeating. Finally, kale contains the glucosinolate isothiocyanate (ITC) that fights the formation of H. pylori (Helicobacter pylori), a bacterial growth in the stomach lining that can lead to gastric cancer.
Antioxidants
Kale is a superstar in the arena of carotenoids and flavonoids, two powerful antioxidants that protect our cells from free radicals that cause oxidative stress. The key flavonoids kaempferol and quercitin (not to dismiss the 45 other distinctive flavonoids in kale) have also been shown to specifically fight against the formation of cancerous cells. With the addition of high doses of well-known antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin A, and manganese, kale is certainly a smart choice in the battle against cellular oxidation.
Anti-Inflammatory 
One cup of kale provides about 10% of the RDA of omega-3 fatty acids that helps regulate the body’s inflammatory process. A megadose of vitamin K further aids to fight against excessive inflammatory-related problems, such as arthritis, autoimmune disorders, and asthma.
Cancer 
Not only do kale's antioxidant and anti-inflammatory qualities work together to prevent and even combat cancer, a healthy diet of kale also provides glucosinolates, which have been shown to prevent colon, breast, bladder, prostate, ovarian cancers, as well as gastric cancer.
Cardiovascular Support
The high fiber content of kale lowers our cholesterol by binding with bile acids that the liver produces from cholesterol for digesting fat. Because many of these bile acids are coupled with fiber, the liver is charged with producing more bile acid to digest fat, and therefore requires more cholesterol to so, ultimately lowering the amount of cholesterol within our bodies.
Detox 
The isothiocyanates (ITC) from glucosinolates found in kale aid in both phases I and II of the body’s detoxification process. The high sulfur content of kale has further been shown essential for phase II of detoxification.
Vitamin K 
Kale provides a whopping dose of vitamin K (providing 1327% of the RDA in one cup), which is necessary for the synthesis of osteocalcin, a protein that strengthens the composition of our bones. Vitamin K also prevents calcium build-up in our tissue that can lead to atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease and stroke. Finally, vitamin K is essential for synthesizing sphingolipid, the fat needed to maintain the myelin sheath around our nerves, and therefore our nervous system as a whole.
Vitamin A 
With over 192% of the RDA of vitamin A, one cup of kale is an effective antioxidant, boosts immunity, maintains healthy bones and teeth, prevents urinary stones, and is essential to our reproductive organs.
Vitamin C 
Vitamin C, which one cup of kale heartily provides (over 88% of our RDA), is not only a powerful antioxidant, but also lowers blood pressure, ensures a healthy immune system, and fights against age-related ocular diseases, such as cataracts and macular degeneration.

Taken from http://www.healthdiaries.com/eatthis/9-health-benefits-of-kale.html

What I Miss....

John and I had a couple over the other night for dinner.  Lauren has lived down south her whole life.  She asked if I had ever been to NYC.  Immediately I felt nostalgic.  Being close to NYC is one of the reasons I loved living in the Lehigh Valley.  So, I got thinking about some of the other things I miss about living in Allentown.

I miss.....

- Being a 2 hour ride away from NYC
- Ocean City, NJ
- Bookstore Speakeasy...especially that Bookstore Burger
- Allentown Brew Works...especially the Bacon me Bleu Burger:-)
- SkyLounge
-My family
- Sunday afternoon lunches at my mom and dad's house
-My job.... oh how I miss this!  I would be getting my classroom ready this week....
-STeelStacks
-Allentown Fair
-Musikfest
- Cedar Crest BFC
-My friends!!!!!!!!!!!
-Driving through the city
- Spontaneous road trips....   SHout out to my Lisa
-Merge
-Small group
-Singing on worship team

I miss ALOT, but I am incredibly blessed with a man who loves me so much.  John is such an amazing husband, and has stood by my side during the crazy transition.

Grace Manor Inn, Richmond Virginia

John and I took two days to drive down to South Carolina after our wedding.  We stayed in Richmond, VA at the Grace Manor Inn. Lovely, Lovely, Lovely.......

We arrived at around seven in evening. Albert, the owner met us at our car and helped us carry in our luggage.  As we walked through the back gate, we were surrounded by a beautiful in-ground pool as well as a jacuzzi.  The backyard was absolutely beautiful.  There were lounge chairs, a patio with table, and gardens.   We walked in the house through the sun room into the grand parlor.  Albert gave us a brief history of the house.  We walked through the living room, music room and dining room.  Each room was beautifully decorated and had a very colonial feel to it.  The house was actually built by a man who wanted to give his wife a memorable 50th wedding anniversary gift.

Our Suite, the Fensterer-Davis Suite,  was located on the second floor.  Decorated beautifully in red hues, it was extremely inviting.  In one room was the queen sized bed, graciously decorated with a ton of pillows!  There was a flat screen TV as well as a Cd player, stocked with many great jazz tunes.  Love!
There was also a sitting room, that was connected to the bedroom by a small powder room.  The sitting room was also red, accented with royal blue chairs and an ivory couch.  The best part about the sitting room was the 3 ring binder that had at least 50 restaurants in alphabetical order.  EAch page told about the restaurant; what kind of food was served, how many miles from the Inn, hours.  On the back of each page was a menu for each restaurant.  This was extremely helpful!  We ended up eating at the Boathouse, which was located on the water.

Breakfast at the Grace Manor Inn was amazing.  Albert himself made the breakfast.  OUr first course was a berry medley with heaving cream served in a Martini glass.  The second course was a scrambled egg concoction served on a piece of bread.  We also had asparagus wrapped in prosciutto.   Yummy!  Our last course was two mini cream puffs.  Not to mention, we drank coffee, tea, and mimosas, and bellinis.

Albert's wife, Dawn, owns Carytown Cupcakes in Richmond, VA, so on our way out, we stopped to buy half a dozen cupcakes.  They were delicious.  The theme of the week at the shop was Italian deserts. You can only imagine......

Check out the Grace Manor Inn the next time you are in Richmond.  You will not be disappointed.
www.thegracemanorinn.com

I'm back! Smoky Stuffed Peppers

So... it's been awhile since I have posted, but I am back!  I just got married on Sunday and have moved away from my home town.  I have a little more time on my hands, so I thought I would try and get back into blogging.
I made a slammin' recipe last night for John and I.  It was the first dinner I made as a married women, and let me just say.....I knocked it out of the park!   This recipe comes from the recipe book "Eating Well, Serves Two" from Jim Romanoff.  If you find that cooking for two is hard, this cookbook is fantastic! The portions are perfect!

Smoky Stuffed Peppers

2 large bell peppers, tops cut off and seeded

4 ounces hot Italian sausage, removed from casing (about 1 link) 

3/4 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth

1 large plum tomato, chopped 

2/3 cup instant brown rice

1/3 cup chopped fresh basil

1/3 cup finely shredded smoked cheese, such as mozzarella, Cheddar or Gouda, divided. 

1.  Position rack in upper third of oven; preheat broiler.

2. Place peppers cut-side down in a  large, microwave-safe dish.  Fill the dish with 1/2 inch of water, cover and microwave on High until the peppers are tender-crisps, 7 to 10 minutes.  Drain the water and transfer the peppers to a roasting pan.

  

3.Meanwhile, cook sausage in a large saucepan over medium-high heat, breaking it up into small pieces with a wooden spoon, until cooked through, about 5 minutes.  Stir in broth, tomatoes and rice; bring to  simmer, scraping up any browned bits with a wooden spoon.  Cover, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until the rice is softened but still moist, about 10 minutes.  

4. Stir basil and half the cheese into the rice mixture.  Divide the filling between the peppers, then top with the remaining cheese.  Broil until the cheese is melted, 2 to 3 minutes.  

I served the peppers with an Orange and Avocado Salad with a Cilantro-Lime Vinaigrette.  Yum! Enjoy!

My creation!!!

I Finally Tried It.....

So I am sitting here and just as I am about to write about my chocolate covered bacon experience, Ace of Cakes comes on and everyone on the show is trying bacon flavored jelly beans.... and the verdict from even the bacon lovers is..... disgusting.  Well, my chocolate covered bacon experience wasn't that bad.  My cousins, mom, aunt, sister and lots of kids were walking down Asbury Street in Ocean City NJ last Tuesday.  It was a little overcast, so we didn't go to the beach, but instead went shopping... not one of my favorite pastimes.  I had separated from the group for a little bit because I was on a mission to find a journal.  When I met up with everyone again, my cousin Laura was in the fudge shop and everyone was saying, "Laura's getting something special for you.. just wait!"  She comes out with chocolate covered bacon!!  We saved in until we got back to the beach house during lunch.  We all gathered around the table, and Laura and I took the first bit from our chocolate covered bacon sticks.  My initial reaction was disappointment. I attribute it to the fact that the bacon tasted smoked.  I'm not a huge fan of smoked bacon to begin with, so right from the bat, my experience was tainted.  It almost tasted like beef jerkey.  It was definitely sweet and salty all at the same time.  I took two more bites and then passed it off..... that was all I could handle.  The decision was split..... half of the family liked it, half didn't.  I'd try it again with non-smoked bacon.  I encourage you to try it on your own... very easy to make at home.